Politics

Obaseki Vs Shaibu: Crisis Might Cost PDP Gov’ship Polls Next Year – Party Chieftains Cry Out

Published

2 years ago

August 13, 2023

Some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Edo State have cried out that the ongoing crisis between the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, might cost the party the forthcoming governorship polls next year.

They said if nothing is done to arrest the current crisis between Obaseki and Shaibu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) or Labour Party (LP) in the state might have an urge over the party.

Their fears stem from the recent rift between the governor and his deputy, Naija News reports.

Recently, Shaibu approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop an alleged impeachment plan by his principal, which Obaseki has denied.

Observer said Shaibu’s sour relationship with his principal might not be unconnected with his recent romance with the leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), mainly when a video of Shaibu with Obaseki’s predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, during the National Assembly inauguration in Abuja went viral.

Shortly after the video went viral, the deputy governor was relieved of taking charge of revenue collection functions in the state, a development he was not happy about.

Raising some concerns about how the feud might affect the party’s chances next year at the governorship polls, a top government official in the state who pleaded anonymity told The Guardian that: “The fight, if not managed, will give the APC an edge in the coming governorship election. We hope they settle out of court and do damage control; otherwise, we would have again given our opponents the leeway to take over Edo State should the infighting continue.”

Another party chieftain also noted that the party was more divided than ever owing to the governor’s style of politics, which has left both the old PDP members (Legacy PDP) and the new PDP members helpless with the current situation.

He said: “We cannot help the situation, the PDP is factionalized under Governor Obaseki, and we have a governorship election next year. They have gone out to disagree a few months to the election. This may affect our chances again should the crisis escalate beyond this time.”

He expressed the view that the governorship election may not be easy for the PDP saying if the party doesn’t pick the right candidate and zone its ticket to Edo Central, the party may have cleared the way for a Labour Party victory.

The PDP chieftain further pointed out that Obaseki may not even be able to anoint any candidate or produce a successor because of the too much infighting under his leadership while in the APC and now PDP.

Meanwhile, a source close to Obaseki told the platform that reports about Shaibu’s impeachment are all false.

The source accused the deputy governor of boasting some two months ago of using former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s system in Edo. He also said that the hues and cry of Shaibu was a preemptive move to prevent impeachment and keep his position.

The source, who is the governor’s loyalist, said the deputy governor put out the story of impeachment because he (Shaibu) was aware of the zoning system in PDP, which he noted would not favour him. He added that Shaibu has been uncharitable to the party.

“He started his surreptitious move immediately after the 2023 presidential election by forming a campaign group in all the wards across the state. He is driven by his inordinate ambition. Comrade Oshiomhole, who handed it over to Obaseki, is from Etsako West, the same as the deputy governor, and he wants the governor to hand it over to him. What then happens to the other local councils in the North and then the Central too, which has never tasted power?

“Obaseki has told him that it is not time for politics so that governance does not suffer. He maintains that at the appropriate time, attention will be given to politics, but Shaibu is not ready for that and wants governance to be abandoned for politics. His move is to force Governor Obaseki into the trenches.

“He has insisted on Obaseki supporting him as the next governor. By this move, he is just unnecessarily afraid of his shadow as there are no plans to impeach him. He has shown that he lacks the courage to approach the governor and discuss his ambition with him. Instead, he is going about it in a surreptitious manner. The move is a defensive mechanism,” the source added.

Politics

Fubara: Mistakes Of 2023 Will Not Be Repeated In 2027 – Wike Vows

Published

7 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Amid renewed conflict between him and Rivers State governor Sim Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has vowed that mistakes made in the 2023 elections will not be repeated in 2027.

Wike made the vow while speaking during a visit to Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas on Tuesday.

He emphasized the importance of acknowledging past errors and taking corrective action.

He stated, “As for Rivers state, let me make it clear what’s important in life is that you make a mistake and come out to tell people, ‘I made a mistake, and therefore I want to correct the mistakes we made.

“The mistake we made in 2023 will not be repeated. Where we voted in the state is not where we will vote again in 2027.”

Tho comes after the minister declared “total support” for President Bola Tinubu, even as tensions brew between him and leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Politics

We Are Not Traitors, PDP Is Dead – Bagos

Published

10 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Former Federal House of Representatives member, Dachung Bagos, has explained that his recent defection, along with other politicians, is a result of the Peoples Democratic Party’s failures.

Bagos made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, shortly after announcing his move from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We are not jumping parties for political ambition. We are jumping parties because of the platform that wants to give our people a voice, and leadership that says, ‘You can trust us to be able to address this very issue,’’ he said.

His statement comes amid the increased wave of defections from the PDP to both the APC and the African Democratic Congress.

Bagos, who served as the representative for Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau State, from 2019 until November 2023, officially joined the APC on January 4, 2026, alongside other key figures loyal to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

This move followed Governor Mutfwang’s own resignation from the PDP and subsequent defection to the APC, citing the opposition party’s ongoing internal crises and the need for clearer direction.

Rejecting suggestions that the defections were motivated by sycophancy, Bagos emphasized principle as the driving factor.

“We are not jumping parties because of sycophancy. We are jumping party because the PDP has failed at this particular moment, and it is irredeemable at this particular moment, so the platform that we see that goes with our own ideology is where we are today,” he said.

Bagos explained that his decision to join the APC was based on the party’s agenda, which he believes aligns with the aspirations of the people of Plateau State.

He underscored that governance goes beyond party lines. “Governance is beyond party lines. It is about those agendas on the table that you can make your people believe and understand that, look, this is the solution,” he said.

He highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s focus on key governance issues such as state police and local government autonomy.

“Our governance has now keyed into the issue of state police,” he said, adding, “If he has re-emphasised the issue of local government autonomy and to ensure that every state has local government elections.”

Bagos also spoke about the importance of creating opportunities for ordinary citizens and engaging young people in politics.

“We want the son of nobody to be a local government chairman, we want the son of a to be this and that, and we want to see the youth that have never believed in politics to believe in politics,” he said.

Politics

Joe Igbokwe Reacts As Wike, APC Secretary Lock Horns Over Fubara

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and social media commentator, Joe Igbokwe, has condemned the verbal war between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Secretary of the ruling party, Ajibola Basiru.

DAILY POST reports that following the renewed hostility between Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the APC Secretary had expressed support for the governor.

However, during an event in Rivers State on Monday, Wike asked the APC National Secretary to stay away from Rivers politics.

Reacting, Basiru, in a statement, asked Wike to resign his appointment and focus on what he described as an “obsession” with Rivers State politics.

Wading into the matter, Igbokwe, in a post on Facebook, said the face-off is uncalled for and unnecessary.

He said, “The altercations between Hon. Minister FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the National Secretary APC Nigeria, Ajibola Basiru, are totally uncalled for and unnecessary. It is a needless distraction.

“If out of annoyance you remove your cap and throw it away, a made man will pick it up and use it forever. Let the misunderstanding cease to exist now.”